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Summary Job Description | Tasks | |||
Research, design, develop, or test computer or computer-related equipment for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use. May supervise the manufacturing and installation of computer or computer-related equipment and components. | Update knowledge and skills to keep up with rapid advancements in computer technology. | |||
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Provide technical support to designers, marketing and sales departments, suppliers, engineers and other team members throughout the product development and implementation process. | ||||
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Test and verify hardware and support peripherals to ensure that they meet specifications and requirements, by recording and analyzing test data. | ||||
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Monitor functioning of equipment and make necessary modifications to ensure system operates in conformance with specifications. | ||||
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Analyze information to determine, recommend, and plan layout, including type of computers and peripheral equipment modifications. | ||||
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Build, test, and modify product prototypes using working models or theoretical models constructed with computer simulation. | ||||
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Analyze user needs and recommend appropriate hardware. | ||||
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Direct technicians, engineering designers or other technical support personnel as needed. | ||||
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Confer with engineering staff and consult specifications to evaluate interface between hardware and software and operational and performance requirements of overall system. | ||||
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Select hardware and material, assuring compliance with specifications and product requirements. | ||||
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Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements. | ||||
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Write detailed functional specifications that document the hardware development process and support hardware introduction. | ||||
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Specify power supply requirements and configuration, drawing on system performance expectations and design specifications. | ||||
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Provide training and support to system designers and users. | ||||
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Assemble and modify existing pieces of equipment to meet special needs. | ||||
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Evaluate factors such as reporting formats required, cost constraints, and need for security restrictions to determine hardware configuration. | ||||
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Design and develop computer hardware and support peripherals, including central processing units (CPUs), support logic, microprocessors, custom integrated circuits, and printers and disk drives. | ||||
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Recommend purchase of equipment to control dust, temperature, and humidity in area of system installation. | ||||
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CompGeo Salary Survey Benchmark Job Summary and Competencies
Computer Engineers
The Benchmark Job Description below represents the specific Position Characteristics of the job used in the Salary Survey. Benchmark Job Descriptions should be inspected carefully to review the degree of matching between an organizations' Job and the Salary Survey Benchmark. Matching internal Jobs to Salary Survey Benchmark Jobs should not be done on Job Title alone. A thorough comparison of Salary Survey Benchmark to Internal Job Descriptions is recommended. A good overlap should exist on any comparisons used on critical Job Dimensions and Competencies.- Job Description
- Knowledges
- Skills
- Abilites
- Tools and Technology
- Education and Experience
- Alternate Job Titles
- Salaries
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Important Knowledge Competencies | Competency Description | |||
Computers and Electronics | Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming. | |||
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Engineering and Technology | Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services. | |||
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English Language | Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. | |||
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Telecommunications | Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems. | |||
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Customer and Personal Service | Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. | |||
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Mathematics | Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications. | |||
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Education and Training | Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects. | |||
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Communications and Media | Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media. | |||
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Administration and Management | Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources. | |||
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Design | Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models. | |||
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Important Skill Competencies | Competency Description | |||
Speaking | Talking to others to convey information effectively. | |||
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Reading Comprehension | Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents. | |||
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Active Listening | Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. | |||
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Critical Thinking | Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems. | |||
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Active Learning | Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making. | |||
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Complex Problem Solving | Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions. | |||
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Writing | Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience. | |||
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Judgment and Decision Making | Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. | |||
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Operations Analysis | Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design. | |||
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Time Management | Managing one's own time and the time of others. | |||
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Science | Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems. | |||
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Social Perceptiveness | Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do. | |||
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Coordination | Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions. | |||
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Systems Analysis | Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes. | |||
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Monitoring | Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action. | |||
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Persuasion | Persuading others to change their minds or behavior. | |||
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Instructing | Teaching others how to do something. | |||
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Operation Monitoring | Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly. | |||
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Systems Evaluation | Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system. | |||
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Management of Personnel Resources | Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job. | |||
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Learning Strategies | Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things. | |||
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Service Orientation | Actively looking for ways to help people. | |||
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Troubleshooting | Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it. | |||
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Quality Control Analysis | Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance. | |||
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Important Ability Competencies | Competency Description | |||
Oral Comprehension | The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. | |||
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Written Comprehension | The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. | |||
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Oral Expression | The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. | |||
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Problem Sensitivity | The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem. | |||
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Deductive Reasoning | The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense. | |||
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Inductive Reasoning | The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events). | |||
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Written Expression | The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand. | |||
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Speech Clarity | The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you. | |||
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Speech Recognition | The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person. | |||
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Information Ordering | The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations). | |||
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Near Vision | The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). | |||
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Category Flexibility | The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways. | |||
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Originality | The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem. | |||
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Fluency of Ideas | The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity). | |||
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Flexibility of Closure | The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material. | |||
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Selective Attention | The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted. | |||
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Tools/Technology Example | Product Category | |||
ASSET JTAG ScanWorks | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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Allegro software | Computer aided design CAD software | |||
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Application-specific integrated circuit ASIC logic synthesis software | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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Automatic test program generation ATPG software | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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Block diagram software | Pattern design software | |||
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Boundary scan description language BSDL | Development environment software | |||
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Boundary scan insertion software | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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Built-in self-test BIST debugging software | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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C | Development environment software | |||
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C++ | Object or component oriented development software | |||
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Cadence Concept | Computer aided design CAD software | |||
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Cadence Dracula | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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Cadence Encounter RTL Compiler | Compiler and decompiler software | |||
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Cadence Opus | Development environment software | |||
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Cadence OrCAD | Computer aided design CAD software | |||
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Cadence PSpice | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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Cadence Schematic Composer | Computer aided design CAD software | |||
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Cadence Virtuoso Spectre Circuit Simulator | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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Cadence Virtuoso software | Computer aided design CAD software | |||
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Complementary-symmetry/metal-oxide semiconductor CMOS layout software | Computer aided design CAD software | |||
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Computer aided design CAD software | Computer aided design CAD software | |||
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Computer diagnostic software | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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Computer simulation software | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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Data acquisition systems | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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Database software | Data base user interface and query software | |||
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Design-for-testability DFT insertion software | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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Discrete Fourier transform DFT analysis software | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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Electronic design automation EDA software | Computer aided design CAD software | |||
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Failure analysis software | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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Fast Fourier transform FFT analysis software | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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Field programmable gate array FPGA logic synthesis software | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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Freescale CodeWarrior Tools | Development environment software | |||
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Hardware description and verification language | Development environment software | |||
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Hardware description language HDL | Development environment software | |||
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Integrated circuit simulation software | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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Internet search engine software | Information retrieval or search software | |||
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Joint test action group JTAG software | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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Linux | Operating system software | |||
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Logic synthesis software | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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LogicVision icBIST | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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M-Sim | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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MAGIC | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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Magma Design Automation Blast Create | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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Magma Design Automation Blast FPGA | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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Mathsoft Mathcad | Computer aided design CAD software | |||
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Mentor Graphics BSDArchitect | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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Mentor Graphics Calibre | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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Mentor Graphics LeonardoSpectrum | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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Mentor Graphics Precision RTL | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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Microarchitecture simulation software | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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Microsoft Access | Data base user interface and query software | |||
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Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | |||
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Microsoft Visual Basic | Development environment software | |||
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Microsoft Visual C# .NET | Object or component oriented development software | |||
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Monte Carlo software | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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National Instruments LabVIEW | Development environment software | |||
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PARTHENON | Computer aided design CAD software | |||
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Place-and-route software | Computer aided design CAD software | |||
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Practical extraction and reporting language Perl | Object or component oriented development software | |||
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Project management software | Project management software | |||
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Python | Object or component oriented development software | |||
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Register transfer language RTL | Development environment software | |||
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SAS software | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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SKILL | Object or component oriented development software | |||
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Schematic editors | Computer aided design CAD software | |||
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Shell script | Operating system software | |||
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Simulation program with integrated circuit emphasis SPICE | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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SoftICE | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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Spreadsheet software | Spreadsheet software | |||
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State diagram software | Computer aided design CAD software | |||
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Structured query language SQL | Data base user interface and query software | |||
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Synopsys Design Compiler | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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Synopsys HSIM | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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Synopsys HSPICE | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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Synopsys Hercules | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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Synopsys TetraMax ATPG | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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Synplicity Synplify | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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SystemVerilog | Development environment software | |||
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The MathWorks MATLAB | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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The MathWorks Real-Time Workshop | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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The MathWorks Signal Processing Toolbox | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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The MathWorks Simulink | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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The MathWorks Simulink DSP Blockset | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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The MathWorks Simulink Fixed-Point Blockset | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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The MathWorks Symbolic Math Toolbox | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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The MathWorks Wavelet Toolbox | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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The Mathworks Control System Toolbox | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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The Mathworks Data Acquisition Toolbox | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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The Mathworks Embedded Target software | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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Timing analysis software | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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Tool command language Tcl | Development environment software | |||
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UNIX | Operating system software | |||
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Verification software | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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Verilog | Development environment software | |||
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Very high-speed integrated circuit VHSIC hardware description language VHDL | Development environment software | |||
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Web browser software | Internet browser software | |||
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Windows kernel debuggers | Program testing software | |||
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Word processing software | Word processing software | |||
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Xilinx ISE Foundation | Computer aided design CAD software | |||
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Xilinx ModelSim | Computer aided design CAD software | |||
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Xilinx Synthesis Technology XST | Analytical or scientific software | |||
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Alternating current AC power analyzers | Power meters | |||
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Alternating current AC power sources | Low voltage alternating and direct current AC DC panelboards | |||
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Bit error ratio testers BERT | Digital testers | |||
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Circuit memory testers | Circuit tester | |||
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Circuit testers | Circuit tester | |||
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Color plotters | Plotter printers | |||
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Communications analyzers | Network analyzers | |||
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Communications signal analyzers | Oscilloscopes | |||
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Computer scanners | Scanners | |||
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Desktop computers | Desktop computers | |||
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Digital analysis systems DAS | Integrated circuit testers | |||
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Direct current DC power supplies | Low voltage alternating and direct current AC DC panelboards | |||
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Dynamic signal analyzers | Frequency calibrator or simulator | |||
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Feeler gauges | Feeler gauges | |||
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Frequency counters | Frequency counters or timer or dividers | |||
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Function generators | Signal generators | |||
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Impedance analyzers | Impedance meters | |||
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Inductance capacitance resistance LCR meters | Capacitance meters | |||
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Inspection scopes | Magnifiers | |||
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Isolators | Isolators | |||
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Laptop computers | Notebook computers | |||
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Logic analyzers | Integrated circuit testers | |||
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Logic probes | Electronic measuring probes | |||
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Mainframe computers | Mainframe computers | |||
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Multimeters | Multimeters | |||
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Oscilloscopes | Oscilloscopes | |||
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Pattern generators | Signal generators | |||
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Personal computers | Personal computers | |||
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Personal digital assistants PDA | Personal digital assistant PDAs or organizers | |||
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Power sensors | Power meters | |||
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Probe card devices | Electronic measuring probes | |||
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Probe stations | Electronic measuring probes | |||
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Protocol analyzers | Protocol analyzers | |||
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Protocol exercisers | Protocol analyzers | |||
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Pulse generators | Level generators | |||
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Resistance meters | Calibrated resistance measuring equipment | |||
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Sampling oscilloscopes | Oscilloscopes | |||
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Signal generators | Signal generators | |||
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Signal source analyzers | Frequency calibrator or simulator | |||
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Spectrum analyzers | Frequency analyzers | |||
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Thermal chambers | Heated walk in environmental or growth chambers | |||
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Traffic generators | Network analyzers | |||
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Universal source generators | Signal generators | |||
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Voltage sensors | Voltage or current meters | |||
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Waveform generators | Wave generators | |||
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Prerequisite Qualification Category | Education and Experience Level | |||
Required Level of Education | Bachelor's Degree | |||
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On-the-Job Training | Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year | |||
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On-Site or In-Plant Training | Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year | |||
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Related Work Experience | Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years | |||
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Related Work Experience | Over 10 years | |||
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Alternate Job Title(s) | |||
Automation Engineer | |||
Computer Architect | |||
Computer Designer | |||
Computer Engineer | |||
Computer Hardware Designer | |||
Computer Hardware Developer | |||
Computer Installation Engineer | |||
Computer Tester | |||
Configuration Manager | |||
Design Engineer | |||
Electrical Engineer | |||
Electronics Engineer | |||
Engineer | |||
Field Service Engineer | |||
Hardware Engineer | |||
Information Technology Consultant (IT Consultant) | |||
Microchip Specialist | |||
Network Administrator | |||
Network Engineer | |||
Project Engineer | |||
Software Engineer | |||
Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE) | |||
Systems Engineer | |||
Systems Integration Engineer | |||
Telecommunications Engineer | |||
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